Hot air diffuser or distributor of the type known as a hot air mopboard or baseboard



2,814,242 HOT AIR DIFFUSER OR DISTRIBUTOR OF THE TYPE KNOWN AS A HOT AIR MOPBOARD OR BASEBOARD Filfid Sept. 24, 1952 Nbv. 26; 1957 T. o. MARIN] ETAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS, Z72 am a; Q Marin 1 y Paul J Thom 950 6 i; W l8 5!! 29/ r/ZQ B y El 100. X ii 1 U a 0 /6 5 Q l-? a Q 7 I 7.

Nov. 26, 1957 T. o. MARIN! ET AL 2,

HOT AIR DIFFUSER OR DISTRIBUTOR OF THE TYPE KNOWN AS A HOT AIR MOPBOARD OR BASEBOARD Filed Sept. 24, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3; INVENTORS,

Thomas aMa/z'nz' BY/Zn/Z J Thom m u Nov. 26, 1957 T. o. MARIN] ET AL 2,

HOT AIR DIFFUSER OR DISTRIBUTOR OF THE TYPE KNOWN AS A HOT AIR MOPBOARD 0R BASEBOARD Filld Sept. 24, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS, I 7/70/2763 0. Mari/71 BY i l] J Thampson nited States Patent Thomas 0. Marini, Audubon, N. 3., and Paul J. Thompson, Wayne, Pa.

Application September 24, 1952, Serial No. 311,196 8 Claims. (Cl. 9 8-40) The present invention heating.

More particularly the invention relates to a hot air diffuser or distributor of the type known as a hot air mopboard or baseboard.

It is known in the art, from a broad standpoint, to provide a hot air diffuser in association with a heating system in a home or other enclosure in which air is diffused or distributed into a room or compartment through a structure placed around or along a portion of the wall of a room at the base thereof and constituting 29 a hot air distributor, the hot air distributor being in the form of a baseboard.

Generally such prior known devices sufier from the drawback that they are extremely difficult to disassemble for cleaning purposes and, when provided with control- 30 lable louvres or shutters, the control therefore, to vary the amount of air being distributed, is either not capable of ready adjustment or when adjusted is of such character as not to maintain the adjusted position through extended 5 use.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a hot air distributor in the form of a sheet metal baseboard of plural parts that can be readily interlocked together and readily disassembled and in which the distributor includes a face plate having a plurality of open- 40 ings through which hot air issues and means for regulating the size of the openings.

It is a more particular object to provide in such a hot air distributor a shutter, controlling the size of the openings in a face plate and control means for the shutter 45 permitting a wide range of adjustment as to the size of the openings with the control means being of such character that once adjusted as to the degree of opening, the movement of the shutter in successive opening and closing movements does not disturb the adjusted position.

It is an additional specific object to provide a hot air distributor of unit character and an exterior finish that harmonizes with conventional wood baseboards and presents an attractive appearance.

It is a further and more specific object to provide such a hot air distributor including a sheet metal channel member forming the bottom, top and rear walls and a sheet metal face plate having plural openings therein with the top and bottom edges of the face plate and the top and bottom walls of the channel member having coop- 6O erative means thereon to permit ready assembly and disassembly of the face plate on the channel member.

It is a still more specific object to provide on the face plate a shutter on the rear thereof having openings therein alignable with the openings in the face plate and adjustable control means including an adjustable stop member to limit sliding movement of the shutter to permit ready adjustment of the degree of opening in order to provide for wide variation in the quantity of hot air distributed through the baseboard.

Further and more specific objects will be apparent from relates to the art of hot air ice the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view illustrating a hot air baseboard distributing unit in position against the wall with the shutters adjusted so as to expose one-half the area of the outlet openings in the face plate of the distributor,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of the unit with an end closure attached,

Figure 3 is a perspective view on a larger scale than Figure 1 from the rear of one of the end closures,

Figure 4 is a perspective view on a larger scale than Figure 1 taken from the rear of a splice or joining plate utilized in connecting two units in alignment,

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a similar cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 1,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation taken from the rear of the unit shown in Figure 1,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary, exploded, perspective view of the components of the unit excluding the end closures, and

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the shutter taken along line 9-9 in Figure 8.

In connection with the drawings, the baseboard distributor or diffuser is a low velocity type to which clean filtered and humidified warm air is supplied from the plenum embodied in the heating system in the home or other enclosure in which the inventlion is installed. The unit diffuser from a practical and structural standpoint is four inches in height, one and one-half inches in depth and is to be furnished in four, six and eight foot lengths. Such arrangement minimizes any cutting and fitting while assembling the same in the room. However, if cutting and fitting is required, the metal is of such gauge as to permit easy cutting or splicing to fit the particular situ ation. The unit diffuser can be fed from either the back or the bottom in accordance with the type construction embodied in the home, such as frame, block or brick construction. Of course, the diffuser in accordance with the invention is sold in unit lengths and when installed an aperture is cut in either the rear or bottom wall thereof for connection with the hot air duct extended from the plenum of the furnace. This aperture, which is not shown in the drawings, is generally cut in the rear wall or bottom wall as close to the center of the unit length as is practicable. If this arrangement is not practical however adequate results are obtained if air is fed to the unit from either end.

In installing the unit in accordance with the invention, one or more lengths are assembled in alignment along the outer walls of the room, the unit lengths of course depending on the size of the room in question. Round pipes or ducts are connected between the respective units and the plenum of the furnace and it is recommended that one or more return ducts be located centrally in the home or other building in which the invention is incorporated with the return air duct areas being greater than the supply area.

The baseboard distributor can be installed as a semirecessed arrangement by nailing or screwing against studs or furring strips or, as in the arrangement shown, particularly in reference to Figures 5 and 6, flush against a plastered wall.

The arrangement illustrated in Figure 1 includes a unit embodying the basic central portion A provided at one end with an end closure B, the details of which are clear from Figure 3 and an aligned unit C, only a portion of which is illustrated, connected by 3 splice or joining plate D illustrated in detail in Figure 4. Obviously, if the 3 size of the room to be heated required only one unit, an end closure would be mounted where the splice plate D appears in the arrangement shown.

As is clear from Figures 5, 6 and 8, the unit structure,

which is either in four, six or eight foot lengths, includes a channel member X having a rear wall 1, a top wall 2, and a bottom wall 3. The horizontal extent of the top and bottom wall, when the unit is assembled is approximately one and one-half inches and the vertical extent of the rear wall 1 is four inches. vertical flange 4 provided therealong and the top wall 2 is bent back upon itself to provide a flange 5 spaced from wall 2. To the underside of the top wall 2 is secured by brazing or spot welding, a retaining strip 6. As is clear from Figures 5, 6 and 8, this strip 6 includes a portion lying flush against the under surface of top wall 2, and an offset portion 7 spaced from flange 5 and also from the under surface of top wall 2. This securing strip coopcrates with the flange 5 to retain a flange generally designated at 8, on the face plate Y in assembled relationship with the channel member X comprised by the walls 1, 2 and 3. This face plate includes a front or face portion 9 provided with a plurality of openings 10 extending therealong in two superposed rows. Each opening is approximately one and one-half inches long and the openings in each row are approximately two inches apart with the respective rows being staggered with relation to one another. The flange 8 extending laterally from the face portion 9 is provided with two offset portions 11 and 12 connected by an angularly disposed portion 13. The arrangement being such that when this flange is inserted between flanges 5 and 7 the angular portion 13 snaps behind the end of flange 5 to retain the face plate in assembled relationship with the channel member. Along its bottom, the face plate portion 9 is bent upon itself as at 14 and above the terminal edge of face plate material and against the rear portion of the face plate is secured by welding or soldering or other suitable means a combined guide and retaining member including oppositely extending angularly disposed legs 15 and 16. The leg 15 constituting a depending flange and fitting over the upturned flange 4 of the bottom wall 3. The arrangement is such that with the rear wall 1 nailed or screwed to the fHIl'lIlgl strips or plaster designated at P in the drawings, and a molding strip M applied along the top wall 2 for decorative purposes, the face plate as a unit can be assembled at an angle fitting the leg or flange 15 over the upturned flange 4, following which the resiliency of the metal permits outward springing of top wall 2 until the flange 8 can be inserted in the space between offset portion 7 and flange 5 whereupon a slight pressure on the face plate will result in a snap fit of the offset portions 11, 12 and 13 with respect to flange 5 and offset portion 7. As is clear from Figures 1 and 8, the rolled edge of the top wall 2 and the rolled edge of the face plate forming the inner terminus of the flange 8 present a neat appearance when the face plate is joined to the channel member. Additionally it is pointed out that the axial extent of the face plate Y is less than the extent of channel member X.

This is to permit the mounting of end closures or splice to accommodate a slidable shutter. Subjacent the flange 8 of the face plate and soldered or welded to the rear face thereof is a guide member denoted at 17. This guide member 17 includes an offset portion 18 spaced from the rear surface of the face plate and extending down to an area closely superjacent the upper margin of the upper The bottom wall 3 has a 10 row of apertures 10. The angularly disposed leg 16 of the channel member, secured to the rear face of the face plate, provides a cooperating guide extending subjacent the bottom margins of the bottom row of apertures. Slidable between the guides is the shutter 19. This shutter is substantially planar and at its bottom edge is provided with an offset flange 20, the portion 21 connecting this flange with the face of the shutter is at an angle similar to the angularity of leg 16. Thus the shutter can be slidably assembled between the guides comprised by the leg 16 and the upper guide member 17 and due to the angularity of the portion 21 the shutter is maintained normally in close association against the rear face of the face portion 9.

The openings 10 of each unit include an end opening 10a of greater axial extent than the rest of the openings. The shutter is provided with superposed rows of staggered openings 32 equal in size with the openings in the face plate with the exception that the portion of the shutter which would underlie the opening 10a of face plate 19 when the left edge of the shutter, as shown in Figure 8, is even with the left edge of the face plate in that figure, is not cut out.

In connection with the aforedescribed structure, while the shutter 19 is of the same length as face plate Y, theupper guide member 17 and the channel member including legs 15 and 16 is not quite as long as the shutter and face plate and these elements terminate at each end inwardly of the side marginal edges of the face plate.

Additionally, while the drawing in Figure 1 illustrates eight apertures in the face plate, it is obvious that the number of apertures will vary in accordance with the length of the face plate section depending on the length of the particular unit. In actual practice, there are four apertures for every foot of length and each row of apertures with the end apertures in each row being approximately one and one-half inches in from the adjacent side edge of the face plate. Therefore the channel member is at least three inches longer than the face plate to accommodate an end closure at each end which has a front face portion extending approximately an inch and one-half axially of the unit or a splice plate when two units are assembled in juxtaposition, the splice plate being approximately four inches in axial extent of the unit.

It will also be pointed out that while in the embodiment illustrated the aperture 10a in which is slidable the control knob described hereinafter for the shutter is on the left end of the unit, it could obviously be embodied on the right end of the unit.

To accommodate the control means for the shutter, the same includes an embossed or depressed portion 22, Figure 8, the length of which is greater than the axial extent of opening 10a and the depth of this depressed portion is such as to accommodate the thickness of a stop member 23. The inner edge of the depressed portion is open to provide a slot at 24 through which the stop member 23 is slidable for adjusting purposes. The embossed portion is cut inwardly adjacent the top and bottom margins thereof near slot 24, with the cut out portions being ben back toward one another to form locking ears 25, shown in Figures 5 and 9. These ears face one another and accommodate a flat sided nut 26 so as to prevent turning thereof. The embossed portion being apertured at 27 so that the threaded spindle 28 of the control knob 29 can pass through the embossed portion for threaded engagement with the nut 26. Thus the stop member 23, which is provided with an elongated slot 30 centrally thereof and an upturned ear or lug 31 at one end, can be adjustably maintained in the embossed portion 22 of the shutter when that said portion underlies the opening 10a of the face plate.

Therefore, in assembling the unit, the stop member, which has a width less than the transverse extent of slot 24 and in flat condition is disposed in the embossed portion 22. Then the shutter is slidably disposed between 5 the upper guide member 17 and the leg 16, following which the lug of car 31 is bent vatright angles to the plane of the stop member so that the stop member, while capable of sliding movement in the opening a, cannot become disassociated from this opening since lug 31 will engage the edges of the pate 9 forming opening 10a. Then the threaded portion 28 of the control knob is inserted through opening 10a, elongated slot 30, and opening 27 in the embossed portion. The control knob is further provided with a shoulder or boss 29', the lowersurface of which has a diameter in excess of the width of the slot 30 so that this shoulder bears against the marginal edges of slot 30 and holds stop member 23 flush against the base of the embossed portion 22. The face plate is now reversed and a nut held in position between the ears 25, whereupon tightening of the control knob securely presses the stop member against the base of the embossed portion. Following this the face plate with shutter attached is mounted on channel member X.

The position of the aperture 27 in relation to the inner end 105 of opening 10a is such, that with the stop member 23 slid to the right in Figure 8, the edge of lug 31 rests against the side surface of the outer portion of the control knob. In this relationship, with the control knob tightened, the space between adjacent openings 32 in the shutter registers with openings 10 in the face plate so that with the control knob slid to the right, the shuter is in closed position. When the control knob is moved to the left and the lug 31 engages the left hand end 10c of opening Illa, the openings 32 are aligned with openings 10 and the shutter is in fully opened position, permitting maximum diffusion of air'into the room.

In such instances, where the volume of air issuing from the distributor when the shutter is fully opened, is in excess of requirements, a ready adjustment can be made. The control knob is backed off with the shutter in closed position whereupon the lug 31 is manually moved to the left. The distance between lug 31 and the end wall 100 of opening 10a when the shutter is closed determining the amount that the shutter will be opened upon subsequent tightening of control knob 29 and movement thereof to the left. Thus it is clear that the shutters can be adjusted to open any amount between a fully opened position and a fully closed position. Forexample, if the lug ear 31 is slid to the left until it engages the end wall 100 of the opening 10a, the shutter cannot be moved since the boss or shoulder portion 29 of control knob is also bearing against the end 101) of opening 10a. Thus with the control knob backed off, the stop member can be pushed anywhere between the end 10c of opening 101a and the controlknob, whereupon a tightening of the control knob will fix the degree of movement of the shutters.

It is of course understood that in normal operation of baseboard units of this type, there are occasions when the shutter is opened and closed periodically and it is desirable to provide for the proper volume of warm air in accordance with the conditions of the furnace and the outside temperature. With the present invention the shutter, regardless of the number of manipulations thereof, will not have its adjusted relationship disturbed no matter how often the lug 31 strikes the end We of the slot. The nut 26 cannot turn between the ears 2'5 and the bottom surface of shoulder portion 29 rests firmly against the marginal edges of slot 30 so that the stop member 23 can only be displaced when the control knob 29 is backed off and the lug 31 grasped for moving the stop member through the slot 24 to any adjusted position.

Figure 7 illustrates the invention in a view from the rear of the face plate showing the projection of the stop member 23 through slot 24 and the positioning or locking of the nut 26 between the ears or lugs 25.

In Figure l the shutter has been adjusted so that in opened position approximately one-half the extent of openings 10 are exposed and the lug 31 is in engagement with the left hand end 100 of opening 10a.

Additionally in that figure the invention is "illustrated with a spl'ice joint, shown in Figure 4, consisting .of a face wall 40, a top flange t-l similar in shape to the flange portion 8 of the faceplate and a centrally disposed angle member including a leg 42 positioned similar 'to the posi tion of leg 15 of the face plate. The lower edge of the splice plate is bent upon itself in a manner similar to the portion 14 of the face plate. Therefore the splice joint mounts on flange =4 and between flanges 5 and 7 in the identical fashion as does the mounting of the face plate thereon so that with two units positioned adjacent one another the splice plate permits joining the two together. Therefore under all considerations, the length of the channel member comprising the walls 1, 2 and 3 is of greater extent than the length of the face plate. Since eachunit is provided with an end cap or an end closure.

One of these is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, showing the end cap B for the right hand end of the unit.

The right hand end cap includes a front wall forming portion 43, and an end wall forming portion 44. The lower edges of each of these portions are bent upon themselves similar to portion 14 of the face plate as at 45 and 46 respectively. The rear face of the portion 43 at its lower end is provided with a strip 47 soldered thereto, including an angularly disposed leg 48 similar in appearance and function with legs 42 and 15.

The upper edge of the wall portion 43 is bent at substantially right angles in the form of a flange 49 similar to the flange portion 8 of the face plate and the flange portion 41 of the splicing piece. This flange is mitered at the corners and a spacer piece 50 is provided thereon to make up for the thickness of the portion of the upper guide 17 on the major portion of the face plate but not near the side edges thereof, so that when the corner is assembled the face thereof is level with the outer surface of the face plate.

The end wall forming portion 44 is provided with mitered inturned flange members '51 and 52 along the top side thereof. When the end piece is assembled in relation to the channel member these flange members rest against the rear wall 1 and the under surface of top wall 2 respectively. The upper flange member 51 lies at a higher level with relation to the horizontal than does the upper portion of the flange 49 so that this flange 51 fits beneath flange 5 formed under the top wall 2 at the edge of the unit.

The. opposite end closure, which has not been illustrated, is similar in structure with the exception that the formation of the walls are reversed. In other words, for the left hand end closure the wall portion denoted 44 in Figure 3 is provided with the offset angle piece similar to the portions 47, 48 and a top flange similar to flange 49 together with a spacer strip, while the wall denoted 43 in Figure 3 is provided with the flanges 51 and 52. Thus in each unit the axial extent of the channel member comprising walls 1, 2 and 3 is greater than the axial extent of face plate by a distance at least twice the width of front wall forming portion 43. This permits the assembly of two end closures on each unit. The splice plate on the other hand is slightly greater in extent than twice the extent of base wall forming portion 43 so that with the two units assembled in juxtaposition the splice plate will provide a proper splicing of the same.

As indicated, the units can be cut, if job requirements demand such cutting, but it is preferred that they be installed in unit lengths and it is found that with unit lengths of four, six and eight feet very little cutting is required regardless of the size of the room, since one or more lengths can be assembled in aligned juxtaposition. It being understood that where plural units are assembled along one wall there is only one feed of air into the assembled units.

The arrangement of the present invention is such that the hot air system can permit a low velocity diffusion of air into the room since it blankets with warm air as much of the outside walls as possible, thus counteracting the formation of cold drafts and at points where the greatest heat loss is occasioned in the building.

Of course the heating engineer who installs the heating system in any given structure can provide the proper initial setting of the shutter with relation to the heat output capacity of the furnace.

Therefore with the present invention heat distribution into a room can be adequately controlled to suit requirements and any adjustment in the positioning of the shutters to vary the quantity of air can be readily made with the control such that the adjustment once made will not readily be disturbed.

Additionally due to the particular structural relationship of the leg 15 and flange 8 of the face plate with relation to flanges 4, and 7 of the channel member, the face plate can be readily assembled and disassembled with respect to the channel members.

The details of structure of the control for the shutter not only permit ease of adjustment but also present an attractive appearance.

The component parts of the invention are constructed of sheet metal which can be readily manipulated by pressing and stamping to form the various parts and will provide a knock down unit of low initial cost.

The outer surface of the component parts are furnished with a bondarized primer coat so that once a unit is installed in a room it can be painted to suit the color scheme of the room so as to blend in with the wall background to present a pleasing appearance.

As indicated in the drawings, near the left hand end of the depressed portion there is an aperture 27 which can receive a self-tapping screw if it is desired to lock the shutter against movement in either direction. This aperture also serves for assisting the assembly of the unit since when the ear 31 is planar with the remaining portion of the stop member 23 and is slid through slot 24, the aperture 27' permits introduction of a pointed tool or the like to start the bending of the ear a distance sufiicient to permit it being grasped by pliers or the like to be bent to its right angled operative position.

Of course the knob 29 can be knurled to assist in manipulating the same and the terminal end of the bolt 28 can be burred or roughened to prevent complete removal of the knob 29 after the installation has been made in the home and before the face plate is finally placed in position. This will of course prevent children from removing the knob from the front of the baseboard.

It is therefore clear that the present invention provides a hot air distributor comprising a channel member including interconnected top, bottom and rear walls adapted to be mounted along the base of a wall in a room to be heated with the rear wall of the channel member perpendicular to the floor. A face plate is removably connected to the top and bottom walls of the channel member by means of cooperative portions on face plate and top wall of the channel member and cooperating flanges at the bottom of the face plate and the bottom walls of the channel member, due to the resiliency of the sheet metal from which the distributor is made. The face plate is provided with superposed rows of staggered apertures and on the rear thereof is adjustably mounted to a shutter. Guide means are also mounted on the rear of the face plate to properly position the shutter relative to the openings in the face plate. As described in detail the control means of the shutter includes a manipulable knob connected to the shutter and passing through an opening at the end of one of the rows of openings in the face plate. Interposed between the knob and the shutter is a stop member which is slotted to accommodate the shank of the knob and is provided with an out-turned lug or ear engageable with the end wall of the opening or slot within which it slides to thereby limit the degree of movement of shutter relative to face plate and thus the degree of opening of the several openings in the face plate since the shutter is provided with similarly arranged rows of staggered openings.

The shutter is of the same length as the face plate and when the edge of the shutter is substantially flush with the edge of the face plate the space between the openings in the shutter covers the openings in the face plate. Thus in order to obtain any degree of opening of the openings in the face plate, the shutter must he slid to the left in the arrangement shown.

An important feature of the invention resides in the depressing or embossing of that portion of the shutter which underlies the end opening in the top row when the edge of the shutter is flush with the edge of the face plate. This depressed or embossed portion accommodates the adjustably positioned stop member and also assists in constraining this stop member from becoming disassociated from the shutter and face plate.

Another important feature consists in the fact that extending along the rear of the face plate adjacent the bottom edge thereof is the channel member including the oppositely extending legs 15 and 16. This channel member thereby constituting a combined flange and guide for respectively assisting in securing face plate and interconnected shutter to the channel member and also for securing and guiding the shutter in position and maintaining the shutter in proper position to keep the openings in the shutter alignable with the openings in the face plate.

What we claim is:

1. In a hot air distributing baseboard, a face plate having rows of spaced openings extending therealong, the openings of one row being staggered with respect to the openings of the other, a shutter slidably mounted at the rear of the face plate having similarly arranged openings therein registrable with the openings in the face plate, means carried by the shutter including a displaceable stop member having a portion projecting through and engageable with the edge of one opening in the face plate to limit sliding movement of the shutter relative to the face plate to vary the degree of opening of the openings in the face plate to thereby vary the quantity of air distributed through the baseboard, and clamp means carried by the shutter and including a knob member operable externally of the face plate and having a clamping surface cooperable with the stop member for releasably clamping the same in selected adjusted positions to the shutter.

2. In a hot air distributing baseboard of the type in which air is distributed thereto and diffused into an enclosure to be heated, a channel member including spaced parallel top and bottom walls and an inter-connected rear wall, a face plate removably connected with said top and bottom walls, cooperative means carried by the upper edge of the face plate and the top wall providing a snap joint, and flange means carried adjacent the lower edge of the face plate on the rear face thereof for cooperation with the bottom wall to removably secure the face plate to the channel member, spaced guide members carried by the rear face of the face plate, one of said guide members constituting a part of the flange means carried adjacent the lower edge of the face plate, said face plate having openings therein, a shutter slidably disposed between said guide means, said shutter having openings therein, manipulable means carried by the shutter and projecting outwardly of the face plate through an opening therein for sliding the shutter relative to the face plate to place the openings in the shutter in or out of registry with the openings in the face plate, an adjustably positioned stop member including a portion extending through the same opening through which the manipulable means extends and cooperative with the end of said opening in adjusted position to adjustably limit the sliding movement of the shutter relative to face plate to vary the quantity of air that can issue through the openings in the face plate and said manipulable means 9 including a surface for releasably engaging .zsaid stop member for releasably clamping the same in selective adjusted positions to the shutter.

3. In a hot air distributing baseboard, a faceplate having at least two superposed rows of spaced openings extending therealong, the openings of one row being staggered with respect to the openings of the other, a shutter slidably guided on the rear face of the face plate and having similarly arranged openings therein registrable with the openings in the face plate, said shutter being substantially coextensive in length with the length of the face plate, and when the ends of the face plate are flush with the ends of the shutter the shutter closing theopenings in the faceplate, said shutter having a depressed portion underlying an end opening of one of the rows of openings in the face plate when the shutter is closed, a stop member slidable in said depressed portion and including an abutting portion projecting through said end opening in the face plate and cooperable with the edge thereof to limit the degree of openin movement of the shutter and manipulable means projecting exteriorly of the face plate and connected to the shutter for simultaneously securing the stop member in an adjusted position in'the depressed portion providing a knob for manipulating the shutter.

4. In a hot air distributing baseboard as defined in and by claim 3, in which the depressed portion at the end thereof innermost with respect to the adjacent end edge of the shutter is slotted, said slidable member projecting through the slot and lying respectively against the rear face of the shutter and the front face of the depressed portion, said slidable member being longitudinally slotted, struck up ears projecting outwardly from the rear face of the depressed portion adjacent the slotted end thereof, the depressed portion having a bolt receiving aperture therethrough located between said ears, said ears facing one another in parallelism, said manipulable member constituting a combined bolt and knob, including a threaded portion projecting through the slot in the face plate, the slot in the stop member and the aperture in the depressed portion, a nut for threaded engagement with the threaded portion and po sitioning between said ears for locking engagement therewith when the bolt is rotated with respect thereto, and said manipulabie member further including a shoulder portion between the knob and the threaded portion and having a diameter in excess of the width of the slot in the stop member and less than the transverse extent of the opening in the face plate, said shoulder portion bearing against the stop member on opposite sides of the slot therein to firmly press the same against the depressed portion to lock the stop member in adjusted positions with respect to the edge of the opening in the face plate.

5. In a hot air distributing baseboard andin combination with an apertured face plate, an apertured shutter having its apertures arranged similarly to and registrable with the apertures in the face plate, means mounting the shutter for sliding movement relative to the face plate, said face plate including front and rear faces and said mounting means being carried by the rear face whereby the shutter is rearwardly of the face plate, control means for selectively determining the degree of opening of the apertures in the face plate to selectively vary the quantity of air that can issue through the apertures in the face plate including a slotted member slidable axially of one of the openings in the shutter and bolt and nut means including a bolt means passing through the slot of the slotted member and a nut means anchored against rotation on the shutter for clamping the slotted member in selected adjusted position relative to the adjacent face plate opening.

6. A hot air difiuser for mounting in a room or enclosure at the base of a wall thereof to extend therealong in simulation of a baseboard comprising a sheet metal enclosure of substantial axial extent :and including spaced top and bottom and spaced front and rear walls, said front wall constituting a face plate and having a plurality of spaced openings therein extending throughout a substantial extent thereof, said enclosure being adapted to receive warm air to be distributed, vertically spaced guide means mounted on the rear of the face plate and extending parallel to the top and bottom walls, a shutter slidably disposed in the guide means and having a plurality of openings therein similarly arranged with respect to the openings in the face plate but offset therefrom when the shutter and face plate are directly superposed whereby sliding movement of the shutter along the length of the face plate in one direction exposes the openings in the face plate to an amount determined by the degree of movement of the shutter, the face plate having one opening adjacent an end edgethereof, said shutter having a depressed portion underlying said opening when the shutter and face plate are directly superposed, said depressed portion extending axially of the shutter a distance in excess of the axial extent of the opening which it underlies, the end of said depressed portion that is innermost with respect-to the said edge of the face plate being slotted, a slidable stop member extending through the slotted end of the depressed portion and having a right angularly disposed lug at the end thereof adjacent the end of the face plate, said lug projecting through said opening in the face plate and being cooperable with the portion of the face plate delimiting the axial extent of said opening to adjustably limit the sliding movement of the shutter relative to the face plate to thereby vary the degree of the openings in the face plate to vary the quantity of air issuing therethrough, and means for adjustably clamping the stop member to the shutter in selected adjusted position so that the stop member moves with the shutter whereby the adjusting movement of the shutter is determined by the clamped position assumed by said lug relative to the edge of the said opening adjacent said edge of the face plate.

7. A hot air diffuser for mounting in a room or enclosure at the base of a wall thereof to extend therealong in simulation of a baseboard comprising a sheet metal enclosure of substantial axial extent, including spaced top and bottom and spaced front and rear walls, said front wall constituting a face plate and having a plurality of spaced openings therein extending throughout a substantial extent thereof, said enclosure being adapted to receive warm air to be distributed through said openings, vertically spaced guide means mounted on the rear of the face plate and extending parallel to the top and bottom walls, a shutter slidably disposed in the guide means and having a plurality of openings therein similarly arranged with respect to the openings in the face plate but offset therefrom when the shutter and face plate are directly superposed whereby sliding movement of the shutter along the length of the face plate in one direction exposes the openings in the face plate to an amount determined by the degree of movement of the shutter, adjustable stop means for the shutter including a portion projecting through an opening in the face plate, said portion being cooperable with the portion of the face plate delimiting the axial extent of said openings to adjustably limit the sliding movement of the shutter relative to the face plate so as to vary the degree of the openings in the face plate to vary the quantity of air issuing therethrough, releasable clamp means cooperable with the stop means for releasably clamping the stop means to the shutter in selective adjusted positions to the shutter so that the stop means moves with the shutter in adjusting movements of the latter, said face plate being removable, cooperable flange means carried respectively by said top wall and the upper edge of the face plate and said bottom wall and the rear face of the face plate adjacent the lower edge thereof to secure the face plate in assembled position, the vertically spaced guide means including a guide adjacent the lower edge of the face plate comprising a channel member including a base secured to the rear of the face plate and oppositely extending, angularly disposed legs projecting outwardly from the base, one of said legs constituting an upper leg when the face plate is vertically disposed and said upper leg extending upwardly and inwardly so as to constitute a guide member forming part of said guide means, said guide means further including a second guide member carried by the rear face of the face plate in spaced relation above said first mentioned guide member and extending parallel thereto, and said shutter being slidably mounted between the guide members at the rear of the face plate.

8. In a hot air distributing baseboard and in combination with an apertured face plate, an apertured shutter for controlling the apertures in the face plate, means mounting the shutter for sliding movement relative to the face plate, adjustable means carried by the shutter and manipulatable externally of the face plate for varying the sliding movement thereof relative to the face plate to vary the degree of opening of the apertures in the face plate, said adjustable means including a stop member slidably mounted relative to the shutter and having 12 a portion projecting through an opening in the face plate for cooperation with the end edge of the opening in selected adjusted positions of the stop member to limit the degree of the openings in the face plate upon sliding movement of the shutter and clamp means cngageable with the stop member for securing the same against displacement from an adjusted position including bolt means and a cooperable nut means anchored against rotation for releasably clamping the stop member in adjusted positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

